Electrical construction toy system

ABSTRACT

An electrical construction toy system is comprised of one or more base pieces and building blocks. At least one of the base pieces or building blocks providing a power source within the base piece or building block. The connection between base pieces and building blocks does not have to be mechanical, but can be magnetic as well. The connection between base pieces and building blocks further provides an electrical connection from which the power source may pass energy to one or more additional building blocks in varying directions. The connections conduct electricity and some building blocks or base pieces also provide powered effects, such as lighting, sound, and motion effects. In addition, there are several switch blocks to operate the lighting, sound, and motion by a wireless remote control.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/636,027 filed Mar. 2, 2015 which claimed the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/946,323, filed Feb. 28, 2014, which arehereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to children's toys and games, and inparticular to an electrical construction toy system. The enduringpopularity of construction toys, such as Legos™ and Lincoln Logs™,attests to the fact that children like to put things together. Othertypes of toys and games offer a wide variety of electrically poweredfeatures such as lights, sounds, and motion. Parents would welcome a newtype of toy which combines construction activities with theseelectrically powered features. An electrical construction toy system,which provides an assortment of colored building blocks withelectrically powered features, would resolve these problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to an electrical construction toysystem. One embodiment comprises a flat base having a large surface areaand a detachable central power block, which includes a battery or DCtransformer from which electrical power is provided to building blockswhich modularly connect to the power block and each other. The buildingblocks provide electrical connections from the power block to one ormore additional building blocks in varying directions. The connectionbetween blocks does not have to only be electrical, but can be magneticas well. This will provide the easiest connection, especially in thesecond exemplary embodiment. The connections conduct electricity andsome building blocks also provide powered effects, such as lighting,sound, and motion effects. In addition, there are several switch blocksto operate the lighting, sound, and motion by a wireless remote control.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitutea part of the specification. They illustrate four embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the first exemplary embodiment disassembled,comprising a plurality of building block base pieces 11, means ofconnecting 12 the building blocks, lights 13, and speakers 14.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the first exemplary embodiment assembled,comprising a plurality of building blocks 11, lights 13, and speakers14.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second exemplary embodimentdisassembled, comprising a plurality of building block base pieces 11,means of connecting 12 the building blocks, and building blocks 15.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the second exemplary embodimentassembled, comprising a plurality of building block base pieces 11,means of connecting 12 the building blocks, and building blocks 15.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the third exemplary embodimentdisassembled, comprising a plurality of building blocks 15, and a remote17.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the third exemplary embodimentassembled, comprising a plurality of building blocks 15, and a remote17.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the fourth exemplary embodimentassembled, comprising a base piece 11, building blocks 15, a switch 16.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram showing the base piece 11 having a powersource 18, means of connecting 12, building blocks 15, lights 13,speakers 14, and moving pieces 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directedto an electrical construction toy system. The system comprises a flatbase 10 being made of one or more building block base pieces 11. Theflat base 10 has a large surface area and a power source 18. The systemalso provides building blocks 15. The power source 18 may include abattery or DC transformer from which electrical power is provided. Eachbase piece 11 provides means of connecting 12 to other base pieces 11 orbuilding blocks 15. The means of connecting 12 maybe magnets, clips,pegs, or any other suitable means of connecting blocks (11 or 15). Themeans of connecting 12 further provides electrical connections betweenthe base pieces 11 and/or building blocks 15 such that power passesbetween the base pieces 11 and/or building blocks 15 from the powersource 18. Some base pieces 11 and building blocks 15 also providepowered effects, such as lights 13, sound from speakers 14, and motioneffects in moving pieces 19. In addition, the system may provideswitches 16 or remotes 17 to operate the lights 13, speakers 14, andmoving pieces 19.

The various embodiments of the invention are intended to employ thefeatures of the invention in construction play sets with differingappearances. Each of the embodiments is intended for distribution tochildren of differing age groups, and the age groups of distribution ofthe various embodiments may overlap or coincide. The building blocks 15which provide lights 13 are preferably translucent, with light-emittingdiodes (LEDs) mounted internally. The other building blocks 15 and thebase pieces 11 are preferably opaque. All of the building blocks 15 andthe base pieces 11 are preferably manufactured in bright colors, such asred, yellow, green, and blue.

The first exemplary embodiment provides a construction play set whichprovides a simple flat or two-dimensional appearance when assembled. Thebase pieces 11 are preferably square or rectangular, but may be providedin various shapes. The base pieces 11 may provide a specific image 20 orpattern on the top surface such that when all the base pieces 11 areassembled the image 20 is completed, similar to how a puzzle functions.When all the base pieces 11 are assembled in the appropriate way suchthat the image 20 is completed the means of connecting 12 between thebase pieces 11 supply power to each other from the power source 18 bycompleting a circuit through the base pieces 11. The completed circuitactivates any lights 13, speakers 14, or moving pieces 19 which are partof the base pieces 11.

The second exemplary embodiment is similar to the first exemplaryembodiment except that it further provides the appearance of athree-dimensional town, university campus, or other group of buildingswhen assembled. The flat base 10 is formed by connecting a plurality ofbase pieces 11. The power source 18 is preferably provided within one ofthe plurality of base pieces 11. The system further provides one or morebuilding blocks 15 which are preferably shaped like buildings. In thesecond exemplary embodiment, the base pieces provide means of connecting12 on their side surfaces such that the base pieces 11 connect to formthe flat base 10 and complete the circuit from the power source 18. Oneor more base pieces 11 further provide means of connecting 12 on theirtop surfaces such that one or more building blocks 15 can be placed ontop of the base pieces 11. These connections provide power from thepower source 18 to the base pieces 11 and building blocks 15. As in thefirst exemplary embodiment, the base pieces 11 and building blocks 15may provide lights 13, speakers 14, or moving parts 19 such that whenthe base pieces 11 or building blocks 15 are connected to the powersource (directly or indirectly) the lights 13, speakers 14, and movingparts 19 are activated.

The third exemplary embodiment is similar to the first two exemplaryembodiments except that it does not provide base pieces 11. Rather, thethird exemplary embodiment proves only building blocks 15 which may comein any shape or size. The building blocks provide means of connecting 12such that the building blocks may be attached to each other to formdifferent shapes such as a vehicle, building, animal, or any othershape. At least one building block 15 provides a power source 18 whichprovides power to all the building blocks 15 connected via the means ofconnecting 12. As in the previous two embodiments, the building blocksmay provide lights 13, speakers 14, or moving parts 19 such that thelights 13, speakers 14, and moving parts 19 are activated when power issupplied to them. The third exemplary embodiment further provides aremote 17 which provides one or more switches 16. The switches 16 areconfigured to wirelessly activate power sources 18 within the buildingblocks 15. The remote 17 may provide more than one switch 16 which eachactivate a different power source 18. One power source 18 may providepower to lights 13, while another power source 18 may provide power tomoving parts 19.

The fourth exemplary embodiment provides a construction play set whichprovides the appearance of a tree when assembled. The base 10 ispreferably circular or elliptical and made of one or more base pieces 11providing a power source 18. The building blocks 15 are preferablycylindrical or conical in shape. The building blocks 15 may connect tothe flat base 10 and to each other using the previously discussed meansof connecting 12. These connections form a circuit through which powermay pass. As in the previous embodiments, the building blocks 15 mayprovide lights 13, speakers 14, or moving parts 19 which are activatedwhen power is supplied.

To use the first, second, third, and fourth exemplary embodiments, theuser connects the base pieces 11 and building blocks 15 via theconnecting means 12. The power source 18 (located within one or more ofthe base pieces 11 or building blocks 15) then provides power to theother base pieces 11 and building blocks 15 as the power passes throughthe connecting means 12 between each base piece 11 and building block15. Any lights 13, speakers 14, and moving parts 19 which are a part ofany of the base pieces 11 or building blocks 15 are then activated bythe power.

The base pieces 11 and the building blocks 15 are preferablymanufactured from rigid, durable materials which are easily cleaned,such as wood, plastic, or acrylic polymer. Components, component sizes,and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognizethat alternate components and materials could be selected withoutaltering the scope of the invention.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one ofordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be thebest mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understandand appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, andequivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. Theinvention should, therefore, not be limited by the above describedembodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methodswithin the scope and spirit of the invention.

I claim:
 1. An electrical construction toy system, comprising: a. a flatbase; b. said flat base being made of a plurality of base pieces; c. atleast one of said plurality of base pieces having a power sourceembedded within the base piece; d. a means of connecting each of saidplurality of base pieces to other base pieces located on the sides ofsaid base piece; e. said means of connecting further providing anelectrical connection such that power from the power source passesbetween connected base pieces; f. one or more powered effects; g. saidat least one powered effect being activated when the powered effect isconnected to the power source.
 2. The electrical construction toy systemof claim 1, further comprising of an image; said image being printed onthe top surface of the base pieces such that when said base pieces areassembled in a specific order, the image is completed; wherein power issupplied to each base piece when connected in the specific order.
 3. Theelectrical construction toy system of claim 2, wherein said one or morepowered effects are a part of the base pieces, such that, when power issupplied to each base piece, the powered effect is activated.
 4. Theelectrical construction toy system of claim 3, wherein said poweredeffects are lights, speakers, or moving parts.
 5. The electricalconstruction toy system of claim 1, further comprising: a. buildingblocks; b. a means of connecting said plurality of base pieces to thebuilding blocks located on the top surface of said base pieces; c. saidmeans of connecting further providing an electrical connection such thatpower from the power source passes between connected base pieces andbuilding blocks; d. a means of connecting said building blocks to otherbuilding blocks; e. said means of connecting further providing anelectrical connection such that power from the power source passesbetween connected building blocks.
 6. The electrical construction toysystem of claim 5, wherein said building blocks are shaped likebuildings.
 7. The electrical construction toy system of claim 5, whereinone or more powered effects are a part of the base pieces, such that,when power is supplied to each base piece, the powered effect isactivated.
 8. The electrical construction toy system of claim 7, whereinsaid powered effects are lights, speakers, or moving parts.
 9. Theelectrical construction toy system of claim 5, wherein one or morepowered effects are a part of the building blocks, such that, when poweris supplied to each building block, the powered effect is activated. 10.The electrical construction toy system of claim 9, wherein said poweredeffects are lights, speakers, or moving parts.
 11. An electricalconstruction toy system, comprising: a. a plurality of building blocks;b. at least one of said plurality of building blocks having a powersource embedded within the building block; c. a means of connecting eachof said plurality of building blocks to other building blocks; d. saidmeans of connecting further providing an electrical connection such thatpower from the power source passes between connected building blocks; e.one or more powered effects; f. said at least one powered effect beingactivated when the powered effect is connected to the power source. 12.The electrical construction toy system of claim 11, further comprisingone or more switches; said switches being configured to activate ordeactivate the power from the power source to the rest of the system.13. The electrical construction toy system of claim 12, wherein said atleast one switch is provided on a remote, such that, said switchactivates or deactivates the power source wirelessly.
 14. The electricalconstruction toy system of claim 12, wherein said at least one switch isa plurality of switches such that different switches may control theactivation of different power sources; each different power source maypower different powered effects.
 15. The electrical construction toysystem of claim 13, wherein said at least one switch is a plurality ofswitches such that different switches may control the activation ofdifferent power sources; each different power source may power differentpowered effects.
 16. The electrical construction toy system of claim 14,wherein said powered effects are lights, speakers, or moving parts. 17.The electrical construction toy system of claim 14, wherein said poweredeffects are lights, speakers, or moving parts.
 18. An electricalconstruction toy system, comprising: a. a flat base; b. said flat basebeing made of one or more base pieces; c. at least one of said basepieces having a power source embedded within the base piece; d. aplurality of building blocks; e. a means of connecting each of saidplurality of building blocks to other building blocks; f. a means ofconnecting at least one of said building blocks to said base piece; g.said means of connecting further providing an electrical connection suchthat power from the power source passes between connected buildingblocks and/or base pieces; h. one or more powered effects; i. said atleast one powered effect being activated when the powered effect isconnected to the power source.
 19. The electrical construction toysystem of claim 18, wherein said building blocks are cylindrical orconical in shape such that when connected the building electricalconstruction toy system takes on the shape of a tree with differentbranches.
 20. The electrical construction toy system of claim 18,wherein said one or more powered effects are lights, speakers, or movingparts.